How to Prevent Egyptian Parents’ Worst Nightmare: Child Kidnapping

As a parent, my biggest concern should be what kind of food my child is eating, choosing a school that offers the best education in the country or raising my child to be a gracious and kind human being; alas, that is certainly not what is on everyone’s mind today.

Rumors of child kidnappings have become everyone’s worst nightmare. Abductions are nothing new to us; however, when parents come across countless social media statuses of people claiming to have witnessed a child being dragged out of a mall, it sends shivers down our spines.

Just because someone adds, “this happened to my [tagged friend]”, the story remains equally questionable and morbidly scary. That is one of Facebook and Twitter’s double-edged weapons, it certainly spreads awareness amongst parents; however, you can’t help but wonder if they are simply rumors with hidden agendas attacking certain establishments.

Every month it is somewhere different and what used to be stories of kidnappings in dark and isolated areas like El Da2ery and Suez Road have now turned into horrific cases of kidnappings at the safest places right under your eyes. Parents I know have stopped taking phone calls at mall arcades so they don’t get distracted for a second.

Sharing such statuses with no credible source has resulted in:

• Overly paranoid people who might accuse you of kidnapping if your child throws a tantrum in a mall.
• Everyone sharing statuses about street children who look like “Welad nas” and assume they are kidnapped, when they could simply have good genes, hence the blonde curls and green eyes.

Nevertheless, with all the stories surfacing, paranoia might save a child’s life.

Children can be kidnapped for many reasons, from using them as emotional bait with street beggars, for bodily organs or ransoms, and since this is currently a serious issue in Cairo, rumors or not, the first thing we need to do is educate children and parents about how to protect themselves if, God forbid, anyone is faced with a kidnapper.

What we need to teach children:

• Never walk away with anyone but a parent.
• Never take anything from strangers.
• Feel comfortable enough to tell parents when they fell in danger or uncomfortable around someone.
• Never get into anyone’s car or house without permission.
• They should move away from a car that pulls up beside them if they do not know the driver.
• If they fell threatened, they should run away from danger and what is normally unacceptable behavior, like yelling as loud as they can or throwing items off shelves at supermarkets, is acceptable when in danger, as long as they get people to noticed the predator.
• Teach children the Velcro technique, where the child is trained to grab onto something close, like a tree, bike or another adult and not let go, which makes it difficult to disengage the child in an attempted abduction.
• Give your child a whistle when in danger so he can blow and cause a commotion that might scare the abductor.
• The windmill technique or swimming technique – where the child rotates their arms in big circles – might prevent the attacker from getting a good grip, turning the attacker’s arms inside out, which is a weaker position from which he could grab hold of the child.
• They should memorize the parents’ mobile and home numbers as well as their address.
• They should never answer the phone and say they are home alone.
• Never answer the door if alone at home or let anyone in.
• Be taught that it is OK to say “no” to adults if they feel uncomfortable or suspicious.
• Never keep secrets from you told by adults.
• Go to the nearest cashier and stay there if lost at a mall.
• If attacked for any belongings, like money or jewelery, give it up rather than risk injury.

What parents need to do:

• Never let your child roam alone at sporting clubs or malls.
• Always keep an eye on your child, don’t assume you are in a big group and someone else is watching him.
• Know where your child is and with whom at all times.
• Do not label their clothing, as predators can lure them away using their names as a sign of familiarity.
• Be paranoid around strangers who show interest in your child.
• Be very alert to adults in kids’ areas with no children.
• Try to put your phone aside when out with your kids; it takes a second for a child to walk away and become an easy target.
• Accompany your child to the bathroom in public.
• Some parents make their children wear watches with a GPS system; however, some predators might be familiar with it. Another option would be an ID bracelet that your child can remove and throw on the ground if taken. Someone will find it and contact you.
• Do not feel sorry for street beggars with children and help in any way.
• Always keep an updated color photograph of your child, a medical and dental history and fingerprints.
• If you are at Cairo Festival City, contact their emergency line for help when in trouble and if you have others with you, head to different exits as fast as you can.

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